Pick 6: Must-see, must-avoid NFL games Weeks 5-8

By HOWARD FENDRICH , Associated Press

Oct. 2, 20133:41 AM ET

When the NFL releases its schedule each year, certain matchups clearly are compelling. They stand out to players, coaches and fans — not to mention league officials and TV network executives — for one reason or another.

Jack Dempsey

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, left, watches a replay next to field judge Terry Brown (43) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter (15) catches a 16-yard touchdown pass as he is defended by New York Jets cornerback Darrin Walls (30) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman loses his shoe as he returns an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley looks at the scoreboard as time runs down in the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. The Colts beat the Jaguars 37-3. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bruce Lipsky )

The Manning Bowl, pitting Peyton's Broncos against younger brother Eli's Giants. Andy Reid's new team, the Chiefs, against his former one, the Eagles.

Then there are those games that, before the season actually begins, appear destined to draw interest and eyeballs, but are no longer intriguing by kickoff time.

One example from 2013: Reigning NFL MVP Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings, a playoff team a year ago, against two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger and the perennially relevant Pittsburgh Steelers at London in Week 4. Worth watching, right? Um, no, not really. They turned out to be a pair of dull, 0-3 teams.

Here's a Pick 6 of must-see games for Weeks 5-8 of the NFL season — and a bonus Pick 6 of must-avoid games, too.

The must-sees:

CHIEFS AT TITANS, OCT. 6: OK, let's be honest here. Who had Kansas City and Tennessee with a combined record of 7-1 at this point?

SEAHAWKS AT COLTS, OCT. 6: Another 4-0 vs. 3-1 matchup, plus one featuring two terrific second-year QBs, Seattle's Russell Wilson vs. Indy's Andrew Luck. So far, Luck is 14-6 — matching John Elway for the best 20-game start by a QB drafted No. 1 overall — and he gets a chance to show what he can do against Richard Sherman and the rest of the talented Seahawks secondary.

JAGUARS AT BRONCOS, OCT. 13: The odds-makers already are talking about what could be the largest spread in NFL history when high-scoring Denver hosts Jacksonville, a club that appears to be one of the worst ever assembled. If Peyton Manning wanted to throw for eight TDs in this one, he probably could.

BRONCOS AT COLTS, OCT. 20: No reason to stop watching the Broncos, week in and week out, if only to see just how many records the older Manning sibling will break. This game provides an intriguing story, of course: Peyton's return to Indianapolis to face his replacement, Luck.

DOLPHINS AT PATRIOTS, OCT. 27: Week 8's schedule is filled with so-so games, but — given that the Bills and Jets could be out of the playoff picture by then — if any AFC East team is going to challenge New England at all, it could be Miami.

The must-avoids:

EAGLES AT GIANTS, OCT. 6: The NFC East is as bad a division as the NFL has seen in a long time. Through Week 4, the four teams are 4-12 — and half of the wins came against division opponents. There is no good reason to watch these teams play anyone, let alone each other.

JAGUARS AT RAMS, OCT. 6: Zzzzzzz.

REDSKINS AT COWBOYS, OCT. 13: Here's the ridiculous part: The Redskins, who enter their bye week 1-3 thanks to a come-from-behind victory against the lowly and injury-depleted Raiders, might be playing for first place in the NFC East. A once-heated rivalry that's now sad.

BUCCANEERS AT FALCONS, OCT. 20: Things are going south in a hurry for Greg Schiano in Tampa, and Mike Smith's taken a step back in Atlanta. One apparently up-and-coming team and one possibly ready to really soar — instead, both are duds.

GIANTS AT EAGLES, OCT. 27: Consider this a rule: Skip all NFC East games.

When the NFL releases its schedule each year, certain matchups clearly are compelling. They stand out to players, coaches and fans — not to mention league officials and TV network executives — for one reason or another.